stewart



A; E. STEWART. KNTTWG MACHINE. APPLsCATmN man um 19. mw.

Patehted Sept. 9, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. E. STEWART. KNITTNG MACHINE. APPLpcATioM man JULY 19. 1911'.

Mmmm@ 9,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3. 1

.UNITED orarns 'riiirnn'r4 ormoni. j

ALBERT E. STEWART. or FRANKLN, NEW HAMPSHIRE; asm-Non 'ro MACHINE AND NEEDLE COMPANY; A CORPORATION 0F NEW HAMPSHIR KNITTING-MACH1NE mower.

.Appleaton flled July 19, V1917. Serial No. 181,496. A l .1 1.

e citizen of the United States. and a resident ot' Franklin, county of lllerrmzuk. vund State o'fNeu Ilmnpslnre.have invented l.mprorements in`knitting-Merlimes.' oi which the .following is a sperilqntion, reference being.r had to the ueeompaiyiug drawings, iornnng part thereof.

This invention has' reference to improve- Vthe toe po'eket'ofa stocking on the same side ofthe root as the heel pocket, thus cans- `ing the closing` seam at the loe to lue located arross the upper part of the foot; ,l have lound. however, that a more comfortable stoekinp` is produeed b v knittingr the toe pocket on, the top side of the footdiagonully Volppositeto the `heel pocket. thereby causing' tie closing: seam ari-oss the underside ol the toot; and it the linnn-object of the present invention to provide ellieient means, in a` knitting ma Y ehine. for accomplishing the knitting; ot the toe pocket in, this desired position relative to the heel pocket.

Other objects of the invention will appear `from the foilmving description.

The inventionconsists in 'the herein described means forfeausing the needle cylinderto lose` one-halt` revolution preparatoriy to the knittingol `the `toe pocket of' the stoelting.

The "invention" ingr the short lmltlneiulles into immeratire position while the loupr butt .needles remain `in operative msition.

i .`Jll,"` The invention furtlwr `donsists in the herein described means for respeetivelv l knitting! the heel andtoe iriorlets. of'a steeltiup; with `theshort and long huit needles.

The inventlon stlll further consist in such Vother novel featureso construction, oper: tion and tmmlnnation of parts as shall here- Speeieetion of Letters Patent.l

`taken ongl'the line una. ol Fig. 5%.

at the ttmto h e located y wlnelvis `oi the general eonstrin-tioir :neither` ione shown 1n my copendnigr.apzp.

further consists in` the herein described means 'for selectivelyrais y cam lever 31. Said cam lever ACME Kur'rrito tionfof a knitting machine embodying inv invention. if. l A i Fig. 2, represents a side `View in` ele l of `a portion ofthe same. i Fig.M 3, reprrsen'ts a sectional" vieni,` U `in elevation, taken onhthe line 34%, 'jl` Fig. Il, represents a reduced section r u. Fig; cl, Vrepresents :in enlarged plau.\',i,entf. in elevation of a portion of-jungi' i needle` elevating Y Ineclmuism, `shoe;ingmjts relative position tothe needle vlinderfrpnl i needles which are shown diagrammatlegldly in plan View. i. ,i Fig'. 5, represents a sectional viex,\\,gmo inelevution, taken on theline 5mg? ot lf` i Fig.' (i, represents a sectional view i lien on the linewf-e of Fig. 4,

Fig. 7, represents.; a side View in elev tiene of the footer' a stocking knit by mv nniehine.

Like `ellarzwters of reference desi nite oorrespondingr parts tlnfoiig'hout.`

The `machine shown in the v l ws, 75

lioahlon.

`driving pulleys 11.' Thel'atter alsw npart Ithel usual rotary and ree;proeatlng,retary movements to the sha-ft 12, thronglnsmtahle mechanism forming no part oi the invention. In mesh with the usual carried by said sharlt 12, is the geanlovlrich I journal on thehuh ofthe miteragnar 16 loose on stud 17 projertingr from the trame o't the machine. '4 Said miter rear 1G meshes 90 ivitli lnitergqear l!) keyed in the usualmansl ner to needle cylinder 20. i 1

4 Coneentrie with Said stud 17 and lotlsel'v present.

" `mounted on hearing iZ-l projecting: 'tromfthe `iframe, l' provide the cluteh'lmh having- 95 ciuteh pins 25 extemliner into the apertures?? 2G in Asaid grarl. Miter gear 16 is "pro vided with a series of aperturesf' adapted to receive the ends of clutch pins 25 when said clutch hub is shifted.` The latter isl provided with the annular groove Q9 renl gaged by stud 30 on the upper end 0i the 31 is pivoted at 32 on the cross bar 33 of the frame and its vouter end lower end is sustained in engagement with the cam mounted on said drum shaft 10, by the spring 36.

The usual switch cam 37 is secured to the inner end of sliding pin 39, and is located above and concentric with the raceway 40 of the stationary cam cylinder 41. Said sliding pin 39 is mounted to slide inl the bearing 42 projecting upwardly' from` the bed plate 43 of the machine framejfl,` said sliding pin is reducedfitp form the shoulder 45 corresponding to shout@ der 46 in said bearing 42. The retracting spring 47 is attached at one end to the forward end of sliding in 39 and its other end is attached to said liearing 42. The outer end offsaid sliding pin is engaged by one end of the cam lever 49 pivoted on the upright stud 50 projecting from said bed plate 43, and the other end of said lever is in the path of the cams 51 and 52 on the cam disk 53.V The latter is mounted'on one end of thel usual yarn change drum shaft 54. The cam 55 is also carried by said cam disk and adapted to engage one end of the cam lever 57 pivoted on said stud 50. The forward Aend ,of cam lever 57 is provided with the horizontal bearing 58 for the plunger 59. Between the. shoulder 60 on said plunger and shoulder 61 on 'bearing 58 is the expension spring 62, and on the outer end of said plunger isthe stop pin 63. The inner end of said plunger engages the outer end of auxiliary cam 64,l which consists 'of a transversely inclined bar mounted to slide on the block 65 projecting from bed plate 43, and having Aits inner end approximately concentric with the needle cylinder. Said auxiliary cam is guidedv by headed screws 67 threaded into said block 65 and extending through the elongated aperture v68 in said auxiliary cam. The latter is pressed outwardly by the retracting spring 69 having one end attached thereto and the other end attached to the bed plate.

The bar 40I of said raceway 40 is cut away at 40b to form the inclined surface 46c arallel to the inclined surface 64 of auxiliary cam 64, and theinclined surface 40d parallel to the under surface of switch cam 37.

Arranged about the needle cylinder in the usual lmanner are an even number of short butt needles 8 and long butt needles Z.

In the operation of the machine, all of the stocking, with the exception of the toe pocket, is knitted in the manner described 1nv my said copending application; the switch cam in the present case,however, being positioned by cam 52 through cam lever 49 to raise the long butt needles into inoperative position preparatory to the knitting of the heel pocket by the short butt needles.

The necessary continuousgrotary and rcciprocating rotary movements are imparted to the needle cylinder, from shaft l2,

knitting of the foot, preparatory to the rei ciprocating rotary knitting of the toc pocketr miter gear 16 is disconnected lfrom gear l5 by tlie withdrawal of pins25 from aperture 27. Pins 25v are withdrawn by the 1 action of cam 35 through cam leverl 31 and :clutch hub 23. Immediately after the withdrawal of clutch pins 25, cam 35 permits spring 36, through the connecting mecha-v nism, to return clutch pins 25 which will engage apertures 27, when the needle cylinder loses one halfrevolution. Also at the completion of the continuous rotary knit ting iof the foot, cam 55 through cam lever 57 yieldingly moves auxiliary cam 64 into position Ato cause the long butt needles to ride down inclined surface 64* to a position below the lowest point of .switch cani V37 the long butt needles then are raised to their normal operative position by riding up in clined surface 40d beneath vsaid switch cam (Figs. 4 and Following lthe latter posi tioning of auxiliary cam 64, switchcam` 37 is moved inwardly by cam 51 through lever 49 to the position shown in Fig. 4 to effect the raising of the short butt needles to inoperative position. After the 4needles are thus positioned, cams 51 and 55 respec tively disengage from cam levers 49and'57, therebyA permitting springs 47 and. 69 to draw back switch cam 37 and auxiliary cam ll- 64 to their original positions out of the pat-h of the needles.

It will be seen that as the needle cylinder has lost one half of a revolution at the completion of the continuous knitting of the foot of the stocking, and as the long butt needles are moved into and theshort butt needles are moved out of operative posi tions, that the continued operation'o the machine will effect the knitting of the toe pocket on the upper side of the foot dia-gonally opposite to the heelpocket.

After the completion of the toe pocket, c'am 35, through the connecting mechanism,

again causes the needle cylinder to lose one 1. A hosiery knitting machine comprisingl in its construction, a needle cylindenneedles if.

of-jthe foot; l

` 3. "A hosiery knitting machine comprising` in its construction a needle cylinder, lneedles mounted tlie1'eabout,ineane for rotating: said cylinder to effcctthe knittingn of 'a stocking,

automatic means for causingisaid cylinder tolose approximately one-haii' 'revolution preparatory to the knitting' of tbe toe "pocket or Saidfetocking on the upper eide `oitliie foot, with automatic means forcaueing said f vliridcr to lose a second half revolution at the completion of the toe pocket of the said stocking'. l

A' knitting' machine comprising in its conetruction a .needle cylinder, a sliafla, means for elccting the rotation ot said needle cylinder by the rotation oi' said shaft, automatic means for disconnecting.;- said needle cylinder from said shaft for apredetermined period to cause said cylinder to lose approximately onefbalf revolution and thereby change the poeition of said needle i cylinder relative to its drivingmechanisml 5,'A knitting,r machine comprising in its construction a needle cylinder, a shaft, means for effecting' the rotation of said needle cylinder by the rotation of `said shaft, automatic means for disconnecting `said needle cylinder from` said Shaft to cause said cylinder to lose approximately onehalf revolutiolnand thereby change the position ci? said needle cylinder relative to its driving n'icchaniem, with means whereby said needle cylinder islbrought baclcto its original posi- Y l tion relatirc to lite driving mechanism.

6. In a knitting machine the combination of `a needle cylinder, needles mounted thereq about, means for rotating said needle cylinder, a main camdrum eh ft, with means controlled by a cam `on it' :shaft 'for dieeonnecting1 said needle cylinder and said means for rotatingsaid needle cylinder for a predetermined period to cause Said cylinder to lose approximately one-half revolution.

der, amain cam drum shaft, means con trolled by u. cam on aaid maimcain drum shaft for disconnecting said needle cylinder stitches' prior to then imit-y i pocket of the said :stocking on the upper side 'and said nately connecting' and l main cam drumV 7. In `a knitting machine the combination y end said means ior 'rotatingr said needle yl'iiiider for a predetermined period tot cause said'cylinder to loee.approximately onef-lialt' revolution, witlrineans controllcdy by eaideain for connecting said needle cyl#` 70 indcreand said ine-ane flier rotatingreaid needle cylinder ,after said predetermined period..`

l 8.' Ina hosiery knittingr machine, tbe combination of a fneedlccylinder, needlea mount-- ed thereabout, a beveled Jearmouuted on sadneedle cylinder andv in, mesh with a second beveled gear, mechanism for rot: said second beveled geaig'witli means for dief connecting,r saidmeclianiem and said second A bevelcdeear for a prraletermined period 8o during` the operationfoi theniacliine to cause the cylinder to lose approximately `one-halt' ,reyolutioln 9. ln aknitting machine of'tlie character described the combination of a machine 'Si frame, a needle cylinder, needles mounted tliereabout, a etudprojecting from said ma# chine frame, a beveled ,ejear mounted on said 4needle cylinder, a second beveled ,g'ear journaled on` said. stud andiirmeeh with said ,ulirstbeveled gear, a spur Vgear mounted to.

rotate about said stud, menne for rotating Said 'epur geen, with means for alternately lcoinicctinr and disconnecting Said spur gear second, beveled gear at predetermined interval` during the `continued operation of the `machine to cause rotation of Vsaid cylinder approximately onehalf revolution and then cause the same to lose approximately one-half revolution..

10, In a knitting machine of the character described the combination of a machine frame, aincedle cylindcr, nee ;lles mounted thereabout, a etudprojectingfrom said machine frame, a beveled gear mounted on said needle cylinder, a second beveled gear journaled on said stud and inf mesh ivitli said firstbevelcd geaiga spur gear mounted to rotate about said stud,'1ncans for rotating said spur Y gear, with means includindA a clutch hub mounted on Said stud for'l alterdisconnecting said; beveled ,gear-for spur ,dear ,and said second -predetermined intervals durindthe conY tinued operation of the machine to cause rc tation Aofeaid cylinder approximately onclialf reyolution and then cause the sameto lose approximately' one-leali:l revolution.

" vl1. In a knittingl machine of the character deecribed the combination of a needle cyliiider, a beveled gear mounted on said needle cylinder, a stud, a second beveled gear journaled on said Stadland in `mesh with said tiret beveled gear, a spur gear mounted to rotate about eaid stud, means for rotating said Spur gear, a clutchinlgl,r device adjacent said spur gear, with means' for operatingsaid clutching device to alternately connect eind disconnect Said spur gear and said sec# ond beveled gear for predetermined interlill) vals during the continued operation of the and said second beveled gear for predetermined intervals during the operation of the machine to cause rotation of said cylinder approximately one-half revolution and then cause the same to lose approximately onehalf revolution. i

13. In a hosiery` knitting machine the combination of a needle cylinder, a beveled gear mounted thereon, a second beveled gear in mesh with said first beveled gear, a main cam drum shaft, a spur gear adjacent said second beveled gear, a clutching device, with means including a cam on said main cam drum shaft for operating said clutching device for alternately connecting and disconnecting said spur gear and said second beveled 0fear. for predetermined intervals during the continued operation of the machine to cause rotation. of said cylinder approxi-y mately one-half revolution and `then cause the same to lose approximately one-half revolution.

14. The combination with a needle cylinder having a series of short butt needles and a series of long butt needles mounted thereabout, and a yarn change drum shaft, of an element carried by said yarn change drum shaft for effecting the operative positioning of one series of needles, to knit the heel pocket of a stocking therewith, and for efecting the operative positioning of the other series of needles to knit the toe pocket of the'said stocking.

' 15. 'In a knitting machine of the character l described the combination of a needle cylinder, a 'series of short butt needles and a series of long butt needles mounted there-v about, a switch cam, means for positioning said switch cam to elevate said short butt needles into `inoperative position,V with means for lowering said long butt needles below the lowest point of said switch cam when in said position to elevate said short butt needles.

16. A hosiery knitting machine having a needle cylinder, a series of long butt needles and a series of short butt needles mounted thereabout, a switch cam, an auxiliary cam, means for positioning said auxiliary cam to lower said lo'ng butt needles below said switch cam, with means for positioning said switch cam to eii'cct the elevating of said short butt needles.

17. A hosiery knitting machine having a needle cylinder, a series of long butt needles and a series of short butt needles mounted thereabout, a yarn change drum shaft, a switch cam, an auxiliary cam, means including an element carried by said yarn change drum shaft for positioning said auxiliary cam to lower said long butt needles below said switchvcam, with means `for positioning said. switch cam to effect the elevating of said. short butt needles.

18. A hosiery knitting machine having a needle cylinder, a series of long butt needles, and a series of short butt needles mounted thereabout, a switch cam, an auxiliary cam, means Jfor yieldingly positioning said auxiliary cani to lower said long butt needles below said switch cam, with means for poy sitioning said swltch cam to edect the elevating of said short butt needles.

19. A hosiery knitting machine having a needle cylinder, a series ci long butt needles l and a series oi short lfutt needles mounted of movement of said switch cam to position said auxiliary cam to lower the long butt needles below said switch cam.

ALBERT E. STEXVART. 

